ἐλεήσω ὃν ἂν ἐλεῶ … ὃν δὲ θέλει σκληρύνει (9:14–18)
Says μὴ ἀδικία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ; μὴ γένοιτο, "Is God unjust? Certainly not!" (9:14, BSB). The answer quotes the LXX of Exod 33:19, ἐλεήσω ὃν ἂν ἐλεῶ, καὶ οἰκτιρήσω ὃν ἂν οἰκτίρω (9:15; lex.G1653, lex.G3627); Swete (vol. 1, p. 172, scan) differs only in spelling (οἰκτειρ-). Says So mercy depends οὐ τοῦ θέλοντος οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος (trechontos, "running," a picture of effort, lex.G5143), but on God who has mercy (9:16).
Says To Pharaoh: εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐξήγειρά σε (exēgeira, "I raised you up," 9:17; lex.G1825), where the LXX has διετηρήθης, "you were preserved"; the Hebrew notes treat Exod 9:16. God's aim is ὅπως ἐνδείξωμαι (endeixōmai, "that I might display," lex.G1731) his power. ὃν δὲ θέλει σκληρύνει, "He hardens whom He wants to harden" (9:18, BSB; lex.G4645).
Says God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Exod 4:21; 9:12). Says Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exod 8:15, 32). Uncertain How the two relate; no lean.
Uncertain How election works in 9:6–24; no team lean. Reformed: God chooses individuals unconditionally, since 9:11–16 sets the choice before works and rests it on his mercy (Augustine; Calvin; Institutes 3.21 for the double decree, by reference). Arminian and Wesleyan: God sets the terms of mercy, faith (9:30–32), and hardening judges persistent unbelief (Exod 8:15, 32), not an eternal decree for each person (Arminius; Wesley). Corporate or national: God chooses peoples and their roles in history, since Gen 25:23 and Mal 1:2–3 speak of nations and 9:24 of a people from Jews and Gentiles. Implies All three affirm God's freedom, his grace, and human responsibility.
Claims
- SaysGod is not unjust; he has mercy on whom he has mercy (9:14–15, quoting Exod 33:19).
- SaysMercy does not depend on human will or effort but on God who has mercy (9:16).
- SaysGod raised Pharaoh up to display his power, and he hardens whom he wants (9:17–18).
- SaysGod hardened Pharaoh's heart (Exod 4:21; 9:12).
- SaysPharaoh hardened his own heart (Exod 8:15, 32).
- UncertainHow God's hardening and Pharaoh's hardening relate; no lean.
- UncertainHow election works in 9:6–24 (Reformed, Arminian and Wesleyan, and corporate or national views); no team lean.
- ImpliesAll three views affirm God's freedom, his grace, and human responsibility.
Citations
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. σκληρύνω (Ro 9:18) —
to harden
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LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Exod 33:19 (vol. 1, p. 172, checked on the scan; overlay ovl.lxx-swete.Exod.33.19.2); Exod 9:16 (vol. 1, p. 121) —
ἐλεήσω ὃν ἂν ἐλεῶ
(LXX (Swete), CC BY-SA 4.0) - Augustine, C. du. ep. Pel. (NPNF¹ 5) public domain C. duas ep. Pel. II.15, p. 398 (by reference; not quoted) (Reformed view)
- Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain sections "Romans 9:10-13" and "Romans 9:14-18" (by reference; not quoted) (Reformed view)
- Calvin, Inst. (Beveridge) public domain 3.21; 3.22.4–6 (by reference; not quoted) (Reformed view)
- Arminius, Works 3 (1853) public domain Analysis of Romans 9, vol. 3, pp. 527–565 (by reference; not quoted) (Arminian view)
- Wesley, Notes NT (1755) public domain on Rom 9, pp. 402–405 (by reference; not quoted) (Wesleyan view)
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-11-04
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